Guwahati: Assam Police hosts India's first national dialogue on children's rights on the Internet

Guwahati, April 8: Taking inspiration from Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's vision for the protection and empowerment of children - both offline and online - has served as the guiding force for many progressive initiatives in the state, the Assam Police through its child-friendly policing initiative Sishu Mitra, on Monday organized "Infantia - India's First National Dialogue on Children's Rights on the Internet" in Guwahati.

Organized in collaboration with PIIR Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to protecting children's rights online, and supported by UNICEF India, Infantia was held in a city-based hotel, and Assam DGP delivered the keynote address in the programme.

Bollywood Actor and parenting influencer Neha Dhupia also joined as a Guest Speaker in a Fireside Chat on how films, OTT, and internet culture influence children.

Neha Dhupia said, "I feel the demarcation has to be set by parents and conversations like this are necessary... The creative economy is still new, and while some see its potential, others ignore the risks - especially when children's safety is at stake. Like crossing a road, we need to instil caution... Parents may not realise the dangers until we have more open discussions and highlight the flip side. It's important to protect our children, and this is a start... We have shared the hashtag #DontBeASharent - use it, be aware and take the warning seriously."

Meanwhile, at the event, Assam Director General of Police Harmeet Singh said, "Under the honourable Chief Minister, our goal is to shift from an insurgency-oriented force to a citizen-centric service. Today's conversation around #DontBeASharent and children's rights is vital--especially in the digital age. Post-COVID, we don't even realise how deeply children are immersed online. This initiative may be the first in Asia to raise awareness about children's digital rights... The aim is to start conversations--between parents, children, teachers, and society--so we can truly understand how to protect them. We're always available--on social media and WhatsApp--for support. Let's come together in the digital age to protect our children. The hashtags are #DontBeASharent and #Infantia.

This National-Level Conclave builds on the momentum of Assam Police's award-winning campaign, #DontBeASharent, and aims to spark critical conversations around making the digital world safer and more inclusive for children.

Infantia marks a milestone in the Assam Police's evolving role as not just enforcers of the law but as empathetic partners in creating a digitally safe and nurturing environment for every child in India.

Reader Comments

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Priya K.

This is such an important initiative! As a mother of two, I'm constantly worried about what my kids might stumble upon online. The #DontBeASharent campaign is especially relevant - we often overshare without realizing the risks. 👏

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Rahul S.

While I appreciate the effort, I wonder how much impact these dialogues really have. We need concrete action plans and digital safety tools, not just awareness campaigns. That said, it's good to see Assam taking the lead on this issue.

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Ananya M.

Neha Dhupia makes a great point about parents setting boundaries. My 10-year-old knows more about tech than I do, but that doesn't mean they understand online dangers. We need more celebrities speaking up about this!

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Sunil P.

Kudos to Assam Police for this initiative! The digital world moves so fast, and our kids are growing up in it. We need more programs like Infantia across all states. #DigitalSafety #ParentingInDigitalAge

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Meena R.

As a teacher, I see firsthand how much time kids spend online. The comparison to crossing the road is perfect - we teach road safety, why not internet safety? Hope they make resources available for schools too!

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.